Flying-machine with flapping wings.



R. L. RIOUT.

FLYING MACHINE WITH FLAPPING WINGS.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG, 7, 1911.

1,009,692, Patented N0v.21, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

R. L. RIOUT.

FLYING MACHINE WITH FLAPPING WINGS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1911.1,009,692, Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET Z.

RENE Louis nionr,

OF PARIS, FRANflE.

FLYING-MACHINE WITH FLAPIPING WINGS.

1,ooo,692.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

Application filed August 7,1911. Serial No. 642,783.

i To all whom it may concern:

v chines with Flapping Wings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines with flapping wings andautomatic deformation which is characterized by the special constructionof the driving mechanism and by the special construction of the wingsproducing the propulsion and the vertical raising of the apparatus.

Tn the accompanying drawings the preferred form of construction of theapparatus is shown.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus. Figs. 2 and 3 representrespectively in front view and in plan view, the driving mechanism forthe flapping motion of the wings. Figs. 4 and 5 show in front View andin an end view respectively, one of the wings in the gliding position.Figs. 6 and? show the same wing in the propelling position.

The apparatus essentially consists of an arm A upon which at f thewings-B are articulated, said arm being prolongated at the front andrear end tapering parts in order to diminish the resistance of the airagainst the propulsion of the apparatus. The stability of the machine isinsured by the tail G serving as horizontal rudder, and

further by a vertical rudder D.

The mechanism carried by the frame A and serving for the transmission ofthe revolving motion produced by the motor is transformed into areciprocating motion of the wings and consists of a crank shaft E driventhrough the intermediary of a toothed wheel gearing FG and having itscrank displaced at 180 the one to the other. This crank shaft drives twoconnecting rods I-I articulated upon the arms I of the "wings. Theeffort of the connecting rods H acts always in opposite positions sothat the reaction is annulled which is caused by the weight and theinertia of each wing so that a balanced movement is obtained. A flywheel K turning with great angular speed driven through the intermediaryof convenient transmissions, insures the regularity of the movement ofthe wings.

The stiffening frame of the wings is composed of a front frame member Lupon which the transverse members a, b, 0, (Z, are

mounted. The first transverse member a nearestto the frame, is fixedwith regard to the member L, the other cross transverse members beingarticulated upon the same. The upward movement of said articulatedtransverse members I), c, d, is limited by stops so that the movement ofthe successive transverse members increases up to the end member M wherethe movement is the greatest. The deformation of the surface of thewings regulated by these transverse members is proportional to the speedfor which the apparatus is regulated. Springs E arranged in the hollowframe member L serve for returning the movable members to the glidingposition (Figs. 4 and 5) when the wing is raised, said members havingbeen pushed upward during the descent or during the propulsion of theapparatus, the lifting movement being produced by the resistance of theair (Figs. 6 and 7). With flying machines of smaller size, for the. flywheel K strong springs N are substituted which bring the wings back totheir normal position for compensating the lifting effect caused by thegliding of the machine (Fig. 2). Said springs can further be usedtogether with the fly wheel in order to obtain better results.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The movement from the motoris transmitted to the crank shaft E by means .of the shaft 0 and thereducing gearing F;Gr. The crank shaft actuates the connecting rods Aand consequently the wings which execute a flapping motion, the extremepositions of said wings being indicated in Fig.

2 by dotted lines and mixed lines respectively. Starting from theposition indicated in dotted lines (the beginning of the raising motion)the transverse members of the wing frame are returned to the normalposition through the action of their springs, the wing will displaceitself with the apparatus in the horizontal direction, so that owing toits inclination it is submitted to the action of the air whereby thelifting motion is continued without considerable resistance until theposition of the wings indicated in mixed lines (beginning of thedescent) has been reached. In descending, the wing by its vertical speedcreates under itself a pushing effort, whereby the frame members 6. c,(l, are pushed back until they butt against their stops so that theyadopt the position shown 'in Figs. 6 and 7, when all the energv isutilized for the propulsion and for the lifting until the wing havingreturned to its normal position the cycle described begins again.

I claim:

A flying machine with flapping wings and automatic deformation,comprising in combination with the body of the machine the wingsconsisting of a hollow front frame member and one fixed longitudinalframe member near the body, and of a certain number of frame membersarticulated to said front frame member, springs located in the hollowfront frame member for maintaining the articulated longitudinal framemembers in their normal osition, the mechanism for effecting the appingmotion of the wings consisting of a crank shaft driven from the engineand having1 its cranks displaced at 180 the one wit regard to the other,connectin rods hinged with the one end to said cran and the other end tothe fixed arms of the wings so that the two connectin rods always act inopposite directions, stops or the articulated longitudinal frame membersof'the wings to limit the deformation of the wings through theresistance of the air, substantially as described and shown and for thepur oseset forth.

In witness wliereof I have'hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses. RENE LOUIS RIOUT.

Witnesses:

RICHARD BAYER, H. C. 002m.

